The Ultimate Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook

By David Borgenicht, Joshua Piven and Ben H. Winters

Four hundred scenarios from all of the bestselling books in the series—with dozens of new entries—from being kicked by a zebra to breakup texts.

With over 10 million copies sold worldwide, the Worst-Case Scenario series has been preparing readers for dangers of all kinds for more than a decade. This handsome compendium is truly the ultimate guide for handling life’s inevitable Worst-Case Scenarios, collecting—for the first time—hundreds of the best and most crucial scenarios from across the entire 26-book series, along with dozens of all new and expanded scenarios, charts, and expert tips. Topical, tabloid-style pages explore more than 100 subjects, from storms to stampedes to technology failures and beyond, with special sections highlighting critical information on starting fires, animal encounters, emergency signals, “Can I eat that?” questions, and more. Packed with expert advice and sturdy enough to stop a tiger bite, this gifty tome will keep longtime fans and new initiates safe and entertained in equal measure.

Praise for the Worst-Case Scenario Survival series

“What this book lacks in spiritual enlightenment, it more than makes up for with the practical advice you thought you’d never need. Yet it’s only when you read about how to deliver a baby in the back of a taxi, surviving quicksand and mastering awkward lift silences that you realize just how handy a book like this could come in. Some day.” —The Irish Times

“There is something for everyone. It has a wide range of scenarios from dangerous to just downright irritating . . . It is fun, witty, entertaining and you learn something along the way too.” —Quill Quotes

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452121239

David Borgenicht

David Borgenicht is the coauthor and creator of the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series. He lives in Philadelphia.

Book preview

1

Tooth and Claw

ANIMAL

ENCOUNTERS

ALLIGATORS

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HOW TO WRESTLE FREE FROM AN ALLIGATOR

1 If you are on land, get on the alligator’s back and put downward pressure on its neck.

This will force its head and jaws down.

2 Cover the alligator’s eyes.

This will usually make it more sedate.

3 Go for the eyes and nose.

If you are attacked, use any weapon you have, or your fist.

4 If its jaws are closed on something you want to remove (a limb), tap or punch it on the snout.

Alligators often open their mouth when tapped lightly. They may drop whatever it is they have taken hold of and back off.

5 If the alligator gets you in its jaws, you must prevent it from shaking you or from rolling over—these instinctual actions cause severe tissue damage.

Try to keep the mouth clamped shut so the alligator does not begin shaking.

6 Seek medical attention immediately, even for a small cut or bruise, to treat infection.

Alligators have a huge number of pathogens in their mouths.

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To get an alligator to release something it has in its mouth, tap it on the snout.

An alligator more than nine feet long is likely to be male, and males tend to be more aggressive.

—Bill Finger, professional alligator breeder

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The immediate danger zone is within 15 feet of the alligator.

HOW TO RETRIEVE AN OBJECT NEAR AN ALLIGATOR

1 Determine the size of the alligator.

Although even small alligators can cause injury, those less than four feet long are not as dangerous to humans. If the alligator is larger than six feet, be especially wary, as a bite can inflict major damage. Alligators larger than nine feet should be considered deadly.

2 Calculate the distance from the alligator to the object. The immediate danger zone is within 15 feet of an alligator.

3 Try to determine if the alligator sees the object. Alligators are attracted to objects that appear to be food.

4 Do not stand between the alligator and water.

If disturbed, an alligator on land will seek refuge in water. Make sure the alligator is between you and any nearby water.

5 Make a loud noise.

Alligators are sensitive to loud noises. Yelling or screaming may cause the animal to leave. If the alligator does not move, however, you will have gained its attention.

6 Use a long branch, pole, or golf ball retriever to recover the object.

The alligator may lunge and bite at objects that invade its space.

7 Quickly move away from the alligator’s territory.

After retrieving the object, or if you encounter difficulties, run. While alligators can move fast—they rely on surprise when attacking their usual prey—they generally will travel only short distances and probably cannot outrun an adult human.

WARNING!

imagea Alligators are native only to the United States and China. They are commonly found in the southwestern United Sates, primarily the Gulf Coast states but as far north as North Carolina.

imagea You are most likely to be attacked in or at the edge of water.

imagea The top speed of large alligators is around 10 miles per hour.

imagea Be especially wary during spring months, when alligators wander in search of mates, and during late summer, when eggs hatch. Mother alligators will respond aggressively to threats to their young, and any adult alligator may come to the aid of any youngster.

imagea Do not assume any alligator is safe to approach. While some animals may be habituated to the presence of humans, alligators are wild animals and therefore unpredictable: they may attack without provocation.

HOW TO BIND AN ALLIGATOR’S JAWS

1 Approach the alligator from behind.

2 Straddle the creature’s back.

Wrap your knees firmly around the midsection of the alligator.

3 Crawl your way up to the head.

4 Cover the alligator’s eyes with a cloth.

Use a thick piece of fabric or your own clothing to drape over the eyes of the beast.

5 Push the alligator’s snout down to close its mouth.

Lean forward and press firmly down on the snout until the mouth is tightly closed.

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Wrap the tape six times around the snout.

Who Has the Most Bite?

6 Clamp the jaws.

Press down with your thumbs on the top and hold your fingers tightly underneath. The muscles that alligators use to open their jaws are actually quite weak, so it is possible to hold the mouth shut with bare hands.

7 Take out your binding material.

Maintaining your grip on the gator’s snout with one hand, grab your duct tape and tug free a two-foot strip with your teeth.

8 Wind the tape six times around the alligator’s snout.

WARNING!

imagea Lacking duct tape, you should bind the jaws of an alligator with rope, belt, thick cloth (heavy shirt or pants), or any other material that can be tied and knotted.

imagea Never approach an alligator head-on when its mouth is open.

CHARGING ANIMALS

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A charging rhino may avoid a noisy target.

HOW TO ESCAPE FROM A CHARGING RHINO

imageb Climb a tree.

imageb Run for scrub.

A rhino probably will not follow you into thick scrub brush. Get as far in as possible. Adrenaline will prevent you from noticing the painful thorns until you try to get out.

Average Speed of Charging Animals

imageb Stand your ground and shout.

If no tree or scrub is available to allow your escape, stand and face the animal (rhinos have poor eyesight but are attracted to movement). As the rhino approaches, scream and shout as loud as you can. A charging rhino may veer away from a noisy target.

imageb Run in the opposite direction.

A rhino will continue running in the same direction when it is charging and is not likely to turn around and come back for another attack. Once you have evaded the charge and the rhino has veered off, run in the opposite direction.

WARNING!

imagea A surprised or startled rhino’s first instinct is to charge a threat, whether real or imagined.

imagea A mother rhino will aggressively defend a calf by charging any and all threats.

imagea Rhinos can climb steep slopes and will also charge into water or mud.

imagea A rhino will charge and attack a vehicle and may chase one for more than a mile. A large male (5,000 pounds or more) can easily knock over a car.

imagea African black rhinos are generally considered the most dangerous and likely to charge, though white and Indian rhinos will also charge. Javan and Sumatran rhinos are smaller, shier, forest dwelling, and considered less dangerous to humans.

imagea A white rhino’s anterior (front) horn can be as long as 62 inches.

HOW TO ESCAPE FROM A CHARGING BULL

1 Do not antagonize the bull, and do not move.

Bulls will generally leave humans alone unless they become angry.

2 Look around for a safe haven—an escape route, cover, or high ground.

Running away is not likely to help unless you find an open door, a fence to jump, or another safe haven—bulls can easily outrun humans. If you can reach a safe spot, make a run for it.

3 If a safe haven is not available, remove your shirt, hat, or another article of clothing.

Use this to distract the bull. It does not matter what color the clothing is. Despite the colors that bullfighters traditionally use, bulls do not naturally head for red—they react to and move toward movement, not color.

4 If the bull charges, remain still and then throw your shirt or hat away from you.

The bull should head toward the object you’ve thrown.

If You Encounter a Stampede

If you encounter a stampede of bulls or cattle, do not try to distract them. Try to determine where they are headed, and then get out of the way. If you cannot escape, your only option is to run alongside the stampede to avoid getting trampled. Bulls are not like horses and will not avoid you if you lie down—so keep moving.

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If you cannot find safe cover from a charging bull, remove articles of clothing and throw them away from your body.

HOW TO FEND OFF A CHARGING REINDEER

1 Stand your ground.

Most reindeer have been bred to be docile livestock; they are sometimes referred to as tundra cows. They will run around, rather than over, a standing person, even when charging in a herd.

2 Watch for reindeer in rut.

Reindeer mate from late August to October, when they are in rut, or heat, and much more dangerous. Each male, or bull, will keep a harem of females and will become unpredictable and aggressive with any person who approaches. While both male and female reindeer have antlers, male reindeer are noticeably larger, weighing 400 pounds or more. During rut, necks on males will be large and swollen.

3 Watch for front-leg kicking.

When disturbed, reindeer will rear up on the hind legs and kick out with the front hooves. Females are generally not dangerous except when defending calves. Stay well back and to the side to avoid being kicked. During rut, reindeer bulls will try to gore rather than kick, if antagonized.

4 Watch for antler display.

Before goring, a male will often attempt to intimidate by showing, or presenting, his antlers, turning his head to the side. Be wary in approaching or cornering a bull reindeer during this display.

5 Back up slowly.

Speak to the reindeer in a soft voice. Do not make any sudden movements.

6 Do not raise your arms over your head.

The bull may take this as a challenge and a sign that you are also displaying antlers.

7 If the reindeer attempts to gore you, grab the antlers.

Grasp one branch with each hand and attempt to steer the head away from you. If the reindeer tries to lunge forward, you may not be able to stop it, but guiding the antlers may allow you to redirect its charge.

8 Move to the side quickly as you release the antlers.

The reindeer will now be beside you and may just move away. Do not run, or you will call attention to yourself. Carefully put distance between yourself and the reindeer.

9 Call for help.

Using a voice and tone that does not further antagonize the reindeer, advise others in the area of your situation. They may be able to distract the reindeer, if it is still in pursuit.

RUNAWAY ANIMALS

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Hang on tight and pull the reins to one side to make the camel run in a circle. It will stop on its own.

HOW TO CONTROL A RUNAWAY CAMEL

1 Hang on to the reins—but do not pull them back hard in an attempt to stop the camel.

A camel’s head, unlike that of a wayward horse, cannot always be pulled to the side to slow it down. Camels are usually harnessed with a head halter or nose reins, and pulling on the nose reins can tear the camel’s nose—or break the reins.

2 If the camel has sturdy reins and a head halter, pull the reins to one side to make the camel run in a circle.

Do not fight the camel; pull the reins in the direction in which the camel attempts to turn its head. The camel may change direction several times—let it do so.

3 If the camel has nose reins, just hang on tight.

Use the reins for balance, and grip with your legs. If there is a saddle, hold on to the horn.

4 Hold on until the camel stops.

Whether the camel is running in circles or in a straight path, it will not run very far. The camel will sit down when it grows tired.

5 When the camel sits, jump off.

Hold on to the reins to keep it from running off.

Ways to Calm a Spooked Horse

Don’t be tense; the horse will be more scared if she thinks you are.

Hold your hands palms-up.

Approach slowly, talking in a soft and firm voice.

Do not reward the skittish behavior with kindness (saying there, there, etc.).

Distract the horse.

Bring a confident, nonspooked horse to stand nearby.

Be patient; horses can take a long time to recover from being spooked.

Reward brave behavior, giving a treat and kind words when the horse stops being scared.

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Sit up in the saddle as much as you can. Fight the instinct to lean forward.

HOW TO STOP A RUNAWAY HORSE

1 Hold on tight to the saddle with your hands and thighs.

Most injuries occur when the rider is thrown, falls, or jumps off the horse and hits the ground or some immovable object, such as a tree or fence post.

2 Grip the saddle horn or the front of the saddle with one hand and the reins with the other.

If you have lost hold of the reins, hold on to the saddle horn or the horse’s mane and wait for the horse to slow or stop.

3 Sit up in the saddle as much as you can.

Fight the instinct to lean forward (it will be especially strong if you are in a wooded area with many trees and branches), since this is not the standard position for a rider when the horse is asked to stop (whoa!), and the horse can feel the difference. Keep a deep seat, with your feet pushed a little forward in the stirrups.

4 Alternately tug and release the reins with a medium pressure.

Never jerk or pull too hard on the reins of a horse running at full speed—you could pull the horse off balance, and it may stumble or fall. There is a very high risk of serious injury or death if the horse falls while running at full speed (25 to 30 mph).

Kicked by a Zebra

Move back: Zebras kick with their hind legs when they are followed too closely, or with the front legs as a defensive measure. The zebra’s powerful hindquarters can deliver a kick with force sufficient to break a crocodile’s jaw.

How to Dismount from a Rearing and Bucking Horse

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Kick your feet out of the stirrups and release the reins. Throw your arms around the neck of the horse as it rears backward. Maintain your grasp and slide around the side of the horse, land on your feet, and push away from the horse to avoid being trampled. This maneuver is known as an emergency dismount.

5 When the horse slows down to a slow lope or a trot, pull one rein to the side with steady pressure so that the horse’s head moves to the side, toward your foot in the stirrup.

This maneuver will cause the horse to walk in a circle. The horse will become bored, sense that you are in control again, and slow to a near stop.

6 When the horse is at a walk, pull back with slow, steady pressure on both reins until the horse stops. Dismount the horse immediately, before it has a chance to bolt again.

Hold the reins as you get down to keep the horse from moving.

WARNING!

imagea Long reins dangling in front of a horse may cause it to trip. Inexperienced riders should tie the ends of the reins together so that they cannot fall past the horse’s neck and pose added danger.

imagea Horses bolt when they are frightened or extremely irritated. The key response is to remain in control of the situation without causing the horse greater anxiety. Talk to it reassuringly and rub its neck with one hand. Yelling, screaming, and kicking the horse will only make it more agitated.

DOGS

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HOW TO SILENCE A BARKING ADDICT

imageb Give your dog more attention.

Many canines bark out of loneliness. Increased quality time with your pet can help mitigate her tendency to vocalize.

imageb Give your dog less attention.

Do not comfort a barking dog. Do not reinforce the idea that making noise reaps benefits.

imageb Use negative reinforcement techniques.

Startle the dog in mid-bark by rattling a soft drink can filled with a handful of coins. At the same time, say Quiet! in a firm voice. Eventually the dog will respond to the command alone.

imageb Do not shout at the dog.

Remain calm. If the dog barks because she believes she is defending her territory, seeing her owner become agitated will only reinforce her view that defense is warranted.

imageb Introduce your dog to people she finds threatening.

Dogs will bark at frequent visitors such as mail carriers. Arrange a face-to-face meet and greet with such regular strangers. If the canine sees the person as a known quantity, she may respond less aggressively. Closely supervise such meetings.

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Introduce your dog to people she finds threatening.

imageb Reward silence in your absence.

Walk out the front door as if you are going somewhere. Say Quiet to your dog as you leave. When the dog begins to bark, step back in and say Quiet again. Leave once more. Only return when the dog is silent—even if she is silent only for a few seconds.

Household Items Tat Are Toxic to Canines

HOW TO GIVE A DOG A PILL

1 Sit on the floor in front of your dog.

Place smaller dogs on your lap.

2 Grasp the dog’s head using your nondominant hand.

Be firm but not harsh. Place your hand on top of the muzzle, with your thumb on one side and fingers on the other.

3 Raise the dog’s nose.

Squeeze firmly behind the canine or eye teeth until the jaw opens.

4 Place the pill between the thumb and forefinger of your dominant hand.

Use the hand’s other three fingers to open the lower jaw further.

5 Place the pill far back in the dog’s mouth.

6 Close the mouth.

7 Tilt up the chin.

Keep the mouth closed and stroke the throat to help with swallowing.

8 Give the dog a treat.

BE AWARE!

imageb Blowing on the nose may stimulate the dog to swallow.

imagea Hiding the pill in peanut butter or some other treat the dog covets is the easiest way to administer a pill. However, some canines become quite adept at eating the treat and leaving the pill.

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Use your hand to keep the dogs mouth closed after placing the pill in his mouth.

How to Clean Dog Poop Off a Shoe

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Use a stick to scrape out poop from beneath the tread of your shoe.

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Drag sneaker though grass or over edged curb.

image14

Dip shoe bottom into park fountain.

Emergency Rain Gear

Cut or tear holes in a plastic shopping bag for the dog’s paws and head. Use a kitchen- or yard-sized bag for larger breeds. Carefully slip the bag over the dog’s head, and ease the front and back paws through the holes.

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HOW TO GET RID OF SKUNK ODOR ON YOUR DOG

1 Keep the dog outside.

2 Flush the dog’s eyes with water.

3 Change your clothes and remove jewelry.

The compound used to remove skunk odor can discolor fabric and, in contact with metals, irritate skin.

4 Prepare special odor-removing wash.

Mix 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with ¹/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Ingredients will bubble furiously when combined. This quantity is sufficient for a medium-sized dog. A larger canine may need more.

5 Apply mixture immediately.

Use the odor-removing compound while still foaming, as this is when it is most effective. Place dog in bathtub or outdoor tub and work mixture into fur, avoiding mouth and eyes. Leave for several minutes or until the foaming stops, then rinse thoroughly. Reapply if odor persists.

6 Dry the dog.

7 Repeat washing, if necessary.

This treatment can irritate a dog’s skin, so wait at least 48 hours before bathing a second time.

WARNING!

imagea Skunk spray consists of the ejected contents of the animal’s anal glands. A freshly sprayed canine can transfer the scent to carpet, furniture, and anything else he brushes against. The odor can cause nausea and dizziness in humans.

imagea Discard the dog’s collar or harness. It will spread skunk odor to anything it touches and isn’t worth the extensive effort it would take to deodorize it.

imagea Skunks can carry rabies. Examine your pet for bites.

HOW TO GIVE A DOG CPR

1 Position the dog on her side.

The back is better for barrel-chested breeds. Make sure the dog is on a firm surface.

2 Kneel next to the dog.

3 Compress the chest.

For small dogs, place your palm and fingertips over the ribs at the point where the elbow meets the chest. Compress the chest approximately one inch, twice per second. Alternate every five compressions with one breath. For medium to large dogs, extend your elbows and cup your hands on top of each other. Place hands over the ribs at the point where the dog’s elbows meet the chest; then compress it two to three inches, two times per second. Alternate every five compressions with one breath. For dogs that weigh more than 100 pounds, compress the chest two or three inches once per second, alternating every 10 compressions with a breath.

4 Check for a heartbeat.

After one minute, listen for a heartbeat. If none is found, continue with compressions.

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To give artificial respiration, tilt the dogs head back, place hand around the muzzle, put your mouth over the nose, and breathe into the dogs nose.

SEA ANIMALS

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HOW TO ESCAPE FROM A GIANT OCTOPUS

1 Pull away quickly.

In many cases, a human can escape from the grasp of a small- to medium-sized octopus by just swimming away. Propel yourself forward to create a pulling pressure on the octopus’s arms. If you cannot get away, or if you feel yourself being pulled back, continue to the next step.

2 Do not go limp.

Octopi are naturally curious and, if strong enough, will check to see if you are a food item before letting you go. Do not act passively, or you may be bitten or quickly enveloped by the octopus’s web, a flexible sheath used to trap prey. Once you are caught in a web-over, escape will be extremely difficult. However, octopi tire easily, so continue to put pressure on the arms by attempting to swim away. The octopus may decide to let you go rather than bring you in for a closer look.

3 Prevent the octopus’s arms from wrapping around your arms.

Initially, the octopus will secure itself to a rock or coral formation and reach out to grab you with just one or two arms. Once it has a firm grip on you, it will move you toward its mouth (called a beak) by transferring you to the next sucker up the arm. Do not allow the first two octopus arms to pin your own arms to your sides, or you will have little chance of fighting it off.

4 Peel the suckers from your body.

Using your hands, start at the tip of each octopus arm and remove each successive sucker from your body, like peeling up a bath mat. Once you have loosened one of the octopus’s arms, give it a spear, raft, surfboard, or other object to latch on to. Work quickly, before the suckers reattach to your body or the octopus’s other arms have a chance to grab you.

5 Detach the octopus from its anchor.

Using the sucker removal method described in step 4, separate the octopus from its anchor. Octopi prefer to be anchored to a fixed object and may swim away once dislodged.

6 Turn somersaults in the water.

If you have detached the octopus from its mooring but are still being held, turn your body in circles in the water to irritate it into releasing you.

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Peel the suckers starting from the tip of the octopus’s arm.

7 Swim toward the surface.

Octopi dislike air intensely and will release you once they break the surface. Continue to peel the octopus’s suckers from your body as you swim.

BE AWARE!

imagea A giant Pacifc octopus may be well over 100 pounds, with an arm span of 23 feet.

imagea Giant octopi are extremely strong but do not constrict prey to kill: they tear victims with their sharp beaks.

imagea Giant Pacifc octopi are not poisonous, though bites may become infected.

imagea Octopi typically eat crabs and clams, though they may eat fish and birds, and may bite anything.

imagea Without training or free-diving experience, a swimmer will typically be able to hold his or her breath for only about a minute before losing consciousness.

HOW TO FEND OFF A SHARK

1 Hit back.

If a shark is coming toward you or attacks you, use anything you have in your possession—a camera, a probe, a harpoon gun, your fist—to hit the shark’s eyes or gills, which are the areas most sensitive to pain.

2 Make quick, sharp, repeated jabs in these areas.

Sharks are predators and will usually only follow through on an attack if they have the advantage, so making the shark unsure of its advantage in any way possible will increase your chances of survival. Contrary to popular opinion, the shark’s nose is not the area to attack, unless you cannot reach the eyes or gills. Hitting the shark simply tells it that you are not defenseless.

How to Avoid an Attack

imageb Always stay in groups.

Sharks are more likely to attack an individual.

imageb Do not wander too far from shore.

This isolates you and creates the additional danger of being too far from assistance.

imageb Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours.

Sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage in low light.

imageb Do not enter the water if you are bleeding from an open wound or if you are menstruating.

Sharks are drawn to the smell of blood, and their olfactory ability is acute.

imageb Do not to wear shiny jewelry.

The reflected light resembles the sheen of fish scales.

imageb Avoid waters with known effluence or sewage and those being used by sport or commercial fishermen, especially if there are signs of baitfish or feeding activity.

Diving seabirds are good indicators of such activity.

imageb Use extra caution when waters are murky.

Avoid showing any uneven tan lines or wearing brightly colored clothing—sharks see contrast particularly well.

imageb If a shark shows itself to you, it may be curious rather than predatory.

It will probably swim on and leave you alone. If you are under the surface and lucky enough to see an attacking shark, then you do have a good chance of defending yourself if the shark is not too large.

imageb Scuba divers should avoid lying on the surface.

They may look like a piece of prey to a shark, and from there they cannot see a shark approaching.

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Strike with your fist at the eyes or the gills. The nose is NOT as sensitive as the areas mentioned in step 1, a common misconception.

imageb A shark attack is a potential danger for anyone who frequents marine waters, but it should be kept in perspective.

Bees, wasps, and snakes are responsible for far more fatalities each year, and in the United States the annual risk of death from lightning is 30 times greater than from a shark attack.

WARNING!

imagea Most shark attacks occur in nearshore waters, typically inshore of a sandbar or between sandbars, where sharks feed and can become trapped at low tide. Areas with steep drop-offs are also likely attack sites. Sharks congregate in these areas, because their natural prey congregates there.

Three Kinds of Shark Attacks

Hit and run attacks are by far the most common. These typically occur in the surf zone, where swimmers and surfers are the targets. The victim seldom sees its attacker, and the shark does not return after inflicting a single bite or slash wound.

Bump and bite attacks are characterized by the shark initially circling and often bumping the victim prior to the actual attack. These types of attacks usually involve divers or swimmers in deeper waters, but also occur in nearshore shallows in some areas of the world.

Sneak attacks differ: the strike can occur without warning. With both bump and bite and sneak attacks, repeat attacks are common, and multiple and sustained bites are the norm. Injuries incurred during this type of attack are usually quite severe, frequently resulting in death.

image19

Box jellyfish and detail of venom-filled nematocyst that stings prey. The tentacles, which can be 10 feet or longer, have thousands of nematocysts.

HOW TO SURVIVE A JELLYFISH STING

1 Leave the water.

2 Rinse the affected skin with seawater.

Thoroughly flush the affected portions of your body with handfuls or bucketfuls of seawater. Do not rinse with freshwater, rub sand on the skin, or urinate on the stung area, as these actions might cause any nematocysts left behind to fire secondary venom.

3 Pour white vinegar on the affected area.

Vinegar prevents additional toxins from being released.

4 Carefully remove any remaining tentacles.

Lift the tentacles off your skin with a towel or tweezers, or scrape them off with the edge of a credit card or seashell. Do not use your hand or foot, or you risk those areas being stung. Examine your swimwear as well as your flesh for stray tentacles.

5 Do not go back in the water.

Jellyfish often travel in a group, formally called a bloom or smack of jellyfish, and so it is not uncommon to be stung more than once.

6 Take over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or aspirin as needed.

WARNING!

imagea If left on your skin, tentacles will keep stinging until the nematocysts are used up, so rapid removal is important.

imagea Dispose of tentacles carefully. Don’t allow them to get on your clothes, on a beach chair or towel, or anywhere they might be unwittingly stepped on.

Marine Creatures Tat Can Kill You Without Teeth

ANIMAL: Box jellyfish

HABITAT: Great Barrier Reef and eastern Australia

WEAPONRY: Dozens of tentacles as long as 10 feet, containing a deadly venom

CONSEQUENCE: Poison affects heart and lungs; can kill in minutes.

ANIMAL: Surgeonfish

HABITAT: Tropics and coral reefs

WEAPONRY: Razor-sharp spines in tail

CONSEQUENCE: Spines can cause bloody wounds with high chance of infection.

ANIMAL: Rabbitfish

HABITAT: Coral reefs in the Indian and Pacifc oceans

WEAPONRY: Venomous spines in fins

CONSEQUENCE: Poison can kill even after fish is dead and on butcher’s block.

ANIMAL: Cone shell snail

HABITAT: Tropics and coral reefs

WEAPONRY: Harpoonlike barb

CONSEQUENCE: Barb injects a paralyzing venom powerful enough to kill a human.

ANIMAL: Barracuda

HABITAT: Tropical waters

WEAPONRY: Ciguatera toxin

CONSEQUENCE: Kills humans who eat flesh of infected fish.

BIRDS

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HOW TO SURVIVE A BIRD ATTACK

1 Watch for hovering and clacking.

To intimidate predators, many species will hover and clack their beaks before attacking. If you observe this behavior, be ready for a bird attack.

2 Close your eyes and cover your ears.

A bird will swoop down quickly, striking at the head or shoulders with its wings or beak.

3 Run for cover away from nesting and foraging areas.

If on a golf course, run as fast as you can onto the green or fairway and away from the area, most likely in the rough, that the bird is protecting. Many species will attack if their nests or foraging areas are disturbed, even incidentally. If a bird attacks, it will continue to attack until you leave these areas. Continue to cover your ears while running.

WARNING!

imagea Wearing a hat can offer some protection to your head against attacks.

imagea Ducks and geese are notorious for going after people. They can approach noisily, heads high. When attacking, they will lower their heads, hiss, and charge, and they can tear exposed flesh with their sharp beaks.

image20

Shield your eyes and face with your arm. With your other hand, grab the bird’s feet and legs from behind, pull it from your hair, and lightly toss the bird away from you. Do not attempt to grab the head or beak.

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Limit contact with the outside world—especially with birds.

HOW TO SURVIVE A BIRD FLU OUTBREAK

1 Wash your hands frequently.

Hand-washing is your best defense against all strains of virulent influenza, including bird flu. Wash hands, including wrists, in a soapy lather for 20 seconds and dry with a paper towel. In addition, carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly.

2 Get a pneumonia vaccine.

Bird flu victims, especially those who are elderly or have chronic illnesses, often suffer the most serious consequences from a secondary pneumonia infection.

3 Wear glasses or goggles.

Your eyes are the window through which many germs enter your body. When at risk of exposure to bird flu, protect your eyes.

4 Wear a respirator.

When in public places, don a hospital-grade respirator. The commonly worn surgical masks actually have little chance of protecting from the germs that carry bird flu.

5 Do not touch birds.

Do not handle poultry, and if you eat it, cook it to a temperature of at least 165° Fahrenheit.

6 Take recommended antiviral medication.

Prescription medications such as Tamiflu have been successfully used in the prevention and treatment of avian flu.

7 Limit contact with the outside world.

If a bird flu outbreak is spreading quickly, normal human interaction can put you in danger. Work from home, and do not socialize.

8 Consult a doctor if you or someone close to you has symptoms.

Immediate medical treatment is the best way to fight bird flu once the virus has been contracted.

WARNING!

imagea Do not rely on the current seasonal flu vaccine as a safeguard, as newer strains of avian flu are constantly evolving.

CLEANING OFF BIRD POOP

CAR

Spray car with water to wash away loose droppings and to soften the hardened ones. Dribble cleaning fluid-preferably a natural one, such as a citrus-based cleaner-onto the remaining droppings and let dissolve. Apply additional cleaner onto a soft cloth and gently scrub. Spray car with water.

PATIO

Using a high-pressure sprayer attachment, blast the surface with a garden hose to remove dried-on droppings. Add a cup of ammonia to a gallon of hot water and use the solution to wash the cement, scrubbing off any remaining droppings or stains with a strong bristle brush. Scatter kitty litter over the cement to absorb the solution. When the cement has dried, sweep up the litter and dispose of it right away, since potentially toxic dust can rise off the crusted poop and spread illness.

CLOTHING

Pick off individual clots of poop with a paper towel, or remove with a spoon if necessary. Brush off any dried-on bits before scrubbing the remaining stain under cold water. Rub with regular soap and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.

HAIR

Take a tissue and wipe wet or runny droppings up from the bottom to the top of the affected area, minimizing risk of its spreading further or getting on your clothes. Clean the rest of the poop out of your hair

Reviews for The Ultimate Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook

[santosdelosangeles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolute unit of a book. Literally any worst scenario you can think of is in this book. Please make more!